Sneaking into the Flourishing Tang to Steal Someone's Wife

In 752, the Tang Dynasty reached the height of its prosperity. At the borders, Geshu Han kept the Tibetans from daring to cross Lin Tao, while An Lushan sharpened his blades and set his sights on the Khitans. At court, Li Linfu was on his last legs, and Yang Guozhong was eager to take his place. In Xingqing Palace, Emperor Ming held his beautiful daughter-in-law close as they sang and reveled night after night. There seemed to be neither internal troubles nor external threats.

In 752, the Arab Empire, which at its height spanned Europe, Asia, and Africa, saw the Persians achieve a resurgence by another means. The newly established Abbasid dynasty was busy consolidating its power and quelling rebellions. From Egypt to Syria, from Baghdad to Khorasan, intrigue and scheming were everywhere.

In 752, the Eastern Roman Empire, once driven by the Arabs to the very gates of its capital, finally got a chance to catch its breath. Constantine V and the Khazar Khaganate’s Tarkhan Khagan, his in-laws, launched an unplanned counterattack, but wavered between Asia Minor and the Caucasus.

In 752, the Frankish Kingdom entered the Carolingian era. The European continent had never been so united. Pepin the Short and his great son could already see the dawn of a revived Roman Empire. The infidels crossing the Pyrenees were nothing more than stepping stones to greatness.

752 was an utterly ordinary day, yet it was destined to go down in history, because…

Liu Ji had arrived.

With a good enough hoe, no corner can’t be pried open.